Undernutrition in Pregnant Rats Induces Glucose Intolerance with Enhanced Expression of Inflammation-Related Genes in Peripheral Leukocytes of the Offspring

Abstract

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) induces chronic inflammation and subsequent development of complications triggered by arteriosclerosis. Moreover, undernutrition in pregnant rodents can induce IGT in their offspring. Here, we assessed whether undernutrition in pregnant rats would induce chronic inflammation in their offspring by measuring the expression levels of inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes. Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two groups: the control group received an American Institute of Nutrition Rodent diet (AIN-93G) ad libitum, and the undernutrition group had their diet restricted by 50% (w/w) compared with the control group from day 10 of pregnancy until birth of the offspring. Subsequently, mothers and pups were allowed to access the AIN-93G diet freely. At day 35 after birth, male pups were fasted for 4 h and subsequently orally administered with glucose solution (2 g/kg body weight). Blood glucose area under the curve (AUC) after glucose loading was significantly greater in the undernutrition group than the control group. The mRNA levels for inflammatory cytokines were increased by glucose loading especially in the undernutrition group. Expressions of genes encoding S100A9 and cell adhesion molecule CD11b were increased by glucose loading in the undernutrition group. Thus, undernutrition of pregnant rats during mid to late gestation induced the expression of inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of their offspring, with the development of IGT and impaired insulin secretion.

Gestational Caloric Restriction Alters Adipose Tissue Methylome and Offspring’s Metabolic Profile in a Swine Model

“…In this sense, previous findings in the literature stated that adipose tissue adjusts its function and metabolism in response to the nutritional status [24]. All these results are in line with previous studies highlighting the link between gestational undernutrition and the likelihood of developing cardiometabolic abnormalities later in life [25,26] and post-natal inflammation [5,[27][28][29][30].…”